PRESIDENT BUSH: Good evening. In our hour of
need, just after the terrorist attacks on September the 11th, President
Musharraf quickly condemned the evildoers. He's shown even
greater courage and vision and leadership in the weeks since.

Our nations share an urgent mission, which is to stop and defeat
terrorism wherever it may exist. That mission is not
directed against those who practice Islam. That mission is
directed against evil people.

We discussed ways to accelerate our progress in Afghanistan against
al Qaeda and the Taliban. We also discussed our humanitarian
efforts to help Afghans through the winter. And we spent
time on the need to work together for long-term reconstruction of
Afghanistan, once the Taliban no longer hold power.

Pakistan's efforts against terror are benefitting the entire world
and linking Pakistan more closely with the world. The United
States wants to help build these linkages. I've authorized a
lifting of sanctions, and over $1 billion in U.S. support. I
will also back debt relief for Pakistan.

I want to thank Senators Grassley and Baucus of our United States
Congress for introducing legislation that will improve market access in
the United States to Pakistan's products.

I'm pleased that the President is committed to restore democracy in
Pakistan. Pakistan is a strong ally; President Musharraf is
a strong leader, and the world is deeply appreciative for his
leadership.

Mr. President.

PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF: Thank you very much, Mr.
President. It's my pleasure to be talking to all of
you. Let me, first of all, say that I, myself, my
government, and the people of Pakistan condemn in the strongest terms
the wanton act of terrorism on the 11th of September against the United
States. We condole with all the grieved.

Having said that, let me right away say that Pakistan has taken the
considered decision to be a part of the coalition, to be with the
United States, to fight terrorism in all its forms wherever it
exists. And let me also assure the President that Pakistan
will remain committed to this -- to the fight against terrorism.

We also -- or I also see now the start of a dawn of a new era of a
relationship between Pakistan and the United
States. Pakistan will hope for a very sustainable and
longstanding futuristic relationship developing between Pakistan and
the United States; a relationship which we always have had in the
past.

Having said that, let me say that I had very fruitful discussions
with the President on Afghanistan and on the method of fighting
terrorism. On Afghanistan, we have unanimity of views on a
political dispensation which needs to be encouraged through the people
of Afghanistan, to be brought into Afghanistan. And we have,
in addition, a humanitarian relief package that needs to be worked
out. We have total unanimity of views on these.

Lastly, I did apprise the President on Pakistan's concerns and
Pakistan's difficulties from the fallout of whatever is happening in
our region. And let me very gladly say that the President
showed total concern for it and also assured us, assured Pakistan to
help out in the maximum possible way. I remain extremely
grateful to the President for his concern for Pakistan and for his
desire to assist Pakistan through the difficulties that we are facing
at the moment.

Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT BUSH: The President has agreed to take some
questions, and so have I. Both of us will take two questions
from each side, starting with Mr. Fournier of Associated Press.

Q Thank you, sir. I'd like to ask
both of you about the same topic. Secretary Powell suggested
yesterday that the Northern Alliance shouldn't take control of
Kabul. Does that mean you would discourage them from seizing
the capital? And please explain what he meant when he said
that Kabul should become an open city and use post-World War II Berlin
as an example.

And to you, Mr. President, why don't you think Kabul should be
taken by the Northern Alliance?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I think we share a common view
that in order for there to be a country that is stable and peaceful on
this good leader's western border, that any power arrangement must be
shared with the different tribes within Afghanistan. And a
key signal of that will be how the city of Kabul is
treated. We will encourage our friends to head south, across
the Shamali Plains, but not into the city of Kabul,
itself. And we believe we can accomplish our military
missions by that strategy.

So it's a -- the Secretary -- I don't want to put words in the good
Secretary's mouth, but we believe a strategy that makes sense for the
long run is one that is all encompassing. And a signal of
that strategy will be how the city of Kabul is treated.

PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF: Well, I agree with the President
totally. Why I have been recommending that Kabul should not
be occupied by the Northern Alliance basically is because of the past
experience that we've had when the various ethnic groups were in hold
of Kabul after the Soviets left. There was total atrocities, killings
and mayhem within the city. And I think if the Northern
Alliance enter Afghanistan -- enters Kabul, we'll see the same kind of
atrocities being perpetuated against the people there, against the
populace there, which needs to be avoided.

Q Do you agree with that rationale,
President Bush?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I said one question, now you're going
with three. (Laughter.)

Why don't you call on somebody --

Q Mr. President --

Q Mr. President --

PRESIDENT BUSH: Which one? (Laughter.)

Q This is for President Bush. I
ask my President questions at home. President Bush, your
government and -- the U.S. government in the past and currently has
been proactively using the U.N. Security Council to solve problems in
conflict areas. When will you invoke the U.N. Security
Council to intervene on the issue of Kashmir, which is clearly an issue
which is at the basis of conflict in South Asia?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, we've had a very good discussion
on this subject, and I assured the President that my country will do
what we can to bring parties together, to have good, meaningful
discussions on the subject so that we can come up with a solution.

Q And United Nations involvement in it, Mr.
President?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I think our involvement is exactly how I
described it to the President.

Q Mr. President, Osama bin Laden says he
already has nuclear and chemical weapons. Do you believe
him, and where do you think he would get them from?

PRESIDENT BUSH: The only thing I know certain about him
is that he's evil. And I don't know what to believe about
him, except that he wants to hurt Americans. I suspect he
now wants to hurt the people of Pakistan. And we're not going to let
him. We will do everything we can to stop him here at home,
and we're doing everything we can to hunt him down and bring him to
justice.

Those kind of statements he utters reinforces the coalition's
efforts to bring him to justice, and that's exactly what's going to
happen with Mr. Osama bin Laden -- all the more reason for us to
pursue him diligently and to get him. And that's what we're
going to do.

Q It's Pakistan's turn
now. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT BUSH: Fine by me. (Laughter.)

Q My question is addressed to President
George Bush. Mr. President, United States of America time
and again has said that it is against -- eradicate all sort of
terrorism. My question to you, Mr. President, is when are
you going to deal with the question of state-sponsored
terrorism? My question is in reference to the Kashmir
situation, first. And the other part of my question is, how
do you view the personal contribution and role of Pakistan's leader,
General Musharraf, in countering global terrorism? Thank
you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, thank you very much. My
government strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on October the 1st,
strongly condemned them, as did President Musharraf. He
condemned those attacks, as well. We share the same vision
about terror, that it should not exist anywhere in the world.

The President is working hard to strengthen
Pakistan. He's got an education vision which I find to be
enlightened. After all, he's got a very brilliant woman
running the education department of Pakistan. The reason I
bring that up is both of us work hard to make our countries hopeful and
optimistic, and we recognize that a terrorist attack on either one of
us will disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens, and disrupt our plans
to bring prosperity and hope and opportunity for our respective
countries.

Thank you all very much. Have a good evening tonight in
New York City.